Give our kids a chance

Figures released by the Scottish Government show a gulf in attainment between pupils from the poorest backgrounds and those from the wealthiest. Only 11 children from families in the lowest earning 20 per cent in Renfrewshire achieved three Higher A exam passes on the first attempt.

Campaigners say the poverty is stopping pupils from realising their full potential in the classroom.

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Campaigners are calling for action after a new report revealed poverty is costing Renfrewshire’s poorest children the chance of a better future.

Figures obtained from the Scottish Government have lifted the lid on the shocking disparity in school grades gained by pupils living in the Paisley area’s most poverty-stricken households and those in the most affluent.

Last year, of the 380 youngsters whose families are classed as coming from the lowest earning 20 per cent of the Renfrewshire population, just 11 (2.9 per cent) managed to achieve three ‘A’ passes at Higher level at one sitting.

This compares to 79 pupils (17.4 per cent) who managed top marks from the 453 who make up the wealthiest 20 per cent.

The figures were obtained by the Scottish Conservatives, through Freedom of Information laws.

Now bosses at the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) are calling for more to be done to make sure all children in Renfrewshire have equal access to learning – regardless of their background.

Larry Flanagan, EIS General Secretary, said: “We have been campaigning on the link between poverty and educational attainment for some time now. It is the key issue in Scottish education.

“The EIS has sought to address this problem through constructive engagement with the Scottish Government and other partners who are prepared to challenge the poverty which exists in our society.

“Teachers work extremely hard to overcome the disadvantage faced by too many pupils but cuts to budgets, support staff and resources make this more difficult.”

Ruth Davidson, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, feels the current exam system is holding the poorest back and preventing them from reaching university.

She said: “It is a disgrace that the life chances of our children can largely rest upon whether they are born rich or poor.

“Our education system should offer every child the same chance to learn and to achieve but it is failing far too many of our poorest pupils.

“I do not believe or accept that poorer students are less able – they are simply being failed by a rigid, top-down education system that slams the door on ambition and opportunity for so many.

“These figures show – in black and white – that bright pupils from poor backgrounds are not getting the education they deserve.

“This cannot be allowed to continue and it is time headteachers were given real autonomy to improve their schools.”

Across Renfrewshire, 9.9 per cent of the area’s fifth year pupils made the grade when it came to achieving three or more As at Higher in one sitting.

This is lower than the Scottish average of 10.4 per cent.

Pupils who fail to achieve the best results will not be able to apply to study top courses, such as medicine, architecture and law, at most Scottish universities.

East Renfrewshire, which boasts some of the most affluent areas in the country, is well above the national average for achieving three As at Higher – with 28.4 per cent of pupils getting top marks in one sitting.

Ms Davidson added: “It is time to drive up standards by giving parents choice over where they send their children.

“It is time for an education revolution to focus on boosting excellence for all our children.”

Last night, a Scottish Government spokesman insisted they are committed to education being based on the ability to learn, rather than the ability to pay.

He said: “We have a range of work under way that has a specific focus on reducing the equity gap.

“The most recent figures, published by Skills Development Scotland, confirmed 91.4 per cent of school leavers are now in positive destinations such as employment, college or higher education, combined with the achievement of Scotland’s best-ever exam pass rates last year.

“We are confident the continuing roll-out of Curriculum for Excellence will lead to greater achievement for all pupils in the years ahead.”

A spokesman for the Paisley-based University of the West of Scotland has also insisted it’s playing its part, adding: “The university prides itself on being a highly inclusive institution and is involved in a number of successful initiatives to widen participation, highlighted by the fact that a significant percentage of our student body is from lower socio-economic backgrounds.”